EU to probe Vodafone – Liberty deal

It now seems the EU’s preliminary look at Liberty Global’s multiple asset sale to Vodafone will lead to a full antitrust probe. The decision is due December 11th.

The deal centres on Germany and several German groups, including Deutsche Telekom, have lobbied for an investigation. If the EU takes up the case – which Reuters is predicting – it will mean it can’t be referred to the German domestic regulator, something those concerned about the deal may have preferred.

Speaking at the presentation of Vodafone’s last set quarterly figures, CEO Nick Read said that the deal involved two businesses with “multi-country, non-competing, overlapping footprints” and that precedent existed to suggest that the deal should be approved.